One teacher named in EHS student sexual assault investigation

EXETER — The Exeter High School teacher placed on paid administrative leave in April for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student is social studies teacher Robert Batchelder.

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By Aaron Sanborn

seacoastonline.com

By Aaron Sanborn

Posted Jun. 6, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Updated Jun 6, 2013 at 10:50 AM

By Aaron Sanborn

Posted Jun. 6, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Updated Jun 6, 2013 at 10:50 AM

» Social News

EXETER — The Exeter High School teacher placed on paid administrative leave in April for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student is social studies teacher Robert Batchelder.

Batchelder resigned from his position with the district on May 24, according to non-public minutes from the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board's June 4 meeting.

The minutes do not go into detail about the police or district's investigation into Batchelder.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Michael Morgan placed the two additional teachers on leave in relation to the Batchelder investigation. One of those teachers resigned hours later.

The minutes don't name the two additional teachers.

“(Morgan) explained that he could not discuss the specifics with the Board at this time,” the minutes state.

Morgan revealed in a memo to the district on Thursday that an “original screenplay” was discovered as part of the district's investigation and that the screenplay “may be viewed by some as controversial.”

“The safety and security of our students is always a top priority and I can assure you that our school community members are safe,” Morgan said in the memo.

The current investigation started with a complaint made to school officials against Batchelder on April 18.

Batchelder was accused of sexual assault against a female student in 2009, a matter that was also forwarded to police.

Batchelder could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Exeter police have said that they are investigating all three teachers and the investigation still centers around the one complaint.

At this point the police investigation does not go beyond the three teachers but police say they are asking any other potential victims to come forward.

The New Hampshire Department of Education is also investigating this case, which is protocol, according to Morgan.